What was the working title for Metallica’s album later known as The Black Album?
Answer
Married to Metal
The working title for Metallica’s album later known as The Black Album was Married to Metal.
The phrase referred to a running joke connected with the personal upheaval surrounding the recording sessions. Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted were all divorcing their wives during the difficult production period, giving the title a darkly humorous connection to the band’s circumstances.
The name was never intended to become the final title. Other possibilities reportedly included Five, reflecting the album’s place in Metallica’s studio catalog, and the title of one of the songs. The band eventually chose the simple eponym Metallica because it wanted to keep the presentation straightforward.
Fans later gave the album its enduring nickname because of its stark black cover. The original sleeve featured subtly embossed versions of the band logo and a coiled snake, making the official title easy to distinguish from the visual identity that became known worldwide.